(Kia Sorento Facelift)
Other improvements include a range of new safety, comfort and convenience upgrades, such as Kia's new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a series of driver assistive safety technologies. The upgraded Sorento is also available for the first time in new 'GT-Line' specification.

EXCITEMENT is building for Kia. Not that the uninspiring 'Shades of Grey' colour palette on the new Sorento would provide any indication.
Kia is spanking the automotive mainstream opposition in terms of growth, sales are up 30.8% year on year, and there is further proof the marque will maintain its upward trajectory.
The seven-seat Sorento SUV has been massaged for the 2018 model, headlined by new infotainment technology, better safety and an automatic transmission with two more cogs than the outgoing variants.
Prices are up across the range, starting from the entry level V6 petrol which has risen $2000 to $42,900 plus on-roads. Sorento's range-topping diesel, the most popular derivative, has lifted $500 to start from $58,990.

2018 Kia Sorento Sport V6 Petrol. Warren Kirby

"They (customers) have been willing to part with $60,000 since the car was launched,” Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith said.
"There is a difference between an SUV and a sedan but people for quite a few years have been willing to pay good money for a great product which was Kia Sorento.”
For Meredith, who has been at the helm of Kia for three years after time with Hyundai and a long stint at Honda, nearly everything he's touched has turned to gold.

2018 Kia Sorento Sport V6 Petrol. Warren Kirby

Sales have doubled since his tenure, and he cites three reasons: "Great product, good dealer network and good management staff,” he said.
"We are number eight in the marketplace. Stinger (sedan) has just been launched, our product offering is fantastic, so it's an exciting time.
"We'll do a five to 10 per cent increase on this new Sorento, we are very happy with the upgrade.”
Many will struggle to spot the differences between model years.
New alloy wheel designs and changes to the bumpers offer a slightly sharper appearance and buyers certainly won't be standing out from the crowd with any outlandish colour choices. On offer is white, and metallic silver, metal, graphite, black, a new and blue hue, as well as a white pearl.

2018 Kia Sorento, GT (Front), SLi (mid), Sport (rear). Warren Kirby

Product planning manager Rowland Rivero says the bland choices stem from "traditionally conservative” demand - even red has been culled globally due to lack of interest.
Under the metal, Kia has gone back to the future.
While the 2.2-litre turbo diesel is the same, the 3.5-litre V6 is an updated version of the one launched in 2012 (outgoing models used a 3.3-litre). Kia Australia can't explain why head office went that direction, with average fuel consumption rising 0.1 litres per 100km, apart from the fact CO2 emissions have now dipped significantly.
Key gains have been made in the technological department across the four-tier range, with an upmarket 8-inch touch-screen armed with smartphone mirroing apps Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, digital radio, autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning, driver attention alert, lane keeping assist and radar cruise control all standard.

2018 Kia Sorento GT Diesel. Warren Kirby

The base model is still called an Si, but the second step is named Sport and gains leather trim and larger 18-inch alloys. Next rung is the SLi that comes with a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
The range-topping diesel-only GT-Line variant comes with all the safety kit, including blind spot assist, a 360-degree camera, lights which bend with the steering and rear cross traffic alert.
Those additional features aren't available as a pack, with the only option metallic paint across the range which is $595.

2018 Kia Sorento SLi Diesel. Warren Kirby

ON THE ROAD
Advances have been made in road manners, with the Sorento quiet and composed in varying environments.
Body roll in the bends has been reduced, and the new eight-speed transmission shifts seamlessly with both powertrains.
Most will opt for the diesel and it feels burly without being a rocket ship. Petrol derivatives offer greater pick up, with an easy ability to get the front wheels squealing, but the majority of buyers will find average fuel consumption of 10 litres per 100km too great in comparison to the circa eight litres from the diesel.

2018 Kia Sorento Sport Interior. Warren Kirby

WHAT'S NEW?PRICE
Increases from $500 to $2000, base petrol model from $42,990 plus on-roads. Sport variant replaces Si Limited, third rung is SLi and range-topper is GT-Line (Platinum name banished).TECHNOLOGY
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and digital radio are the key infotainment inclusions. Added lifesaving tech includes autonomous emergency braking and radar cruise control.PERFORMANCE
Eight-speed automatic is now standard. Diesel models are honest and reliable; the petrol V6 is thirsty but remains a rewarding performer.DRIVING
Remarkably quiet and composed on varying surfaces, with less body roll in the bends. The ride is excellent and there are four drive modes - Smart switches between Sport and Comfort depending on your driving style.DESIGN
Front and rear bumper updates and the company grille gets a dark metallic colour change. GT-Line models get LED headlights and, as with SLi, tail-lamps.

VERDICT
Always good, the Sorento just got a bit better. Improved technology maintains pace with the industry mechanically and with infotainment, bundled into a spacious and common sense package which families love.

Kia has taken the wraps off the 2019 Kia Sorento, ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 30th.

Shown tackling Hell’s Revenge in Moab, the updated crossover promises to be more than just a grocery getter as Kia says the model was able to complete the "six-and-a-half mile rock-crawling trek including the ultimate obstacle known as Hell’s Gate."

Kia didn't say much about the crossover itself but the model debuted in South Korea over the summer and recently made an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show. As a result, we can expect the US-spec model will receive a modest makeover that includes new bumpers and restyled head- and taillights. The grille has also been updated and customers can expect to see an assortment of restyled wheels.

The styling changes will continue in the interior as the international variants gained a new steering wheel, additional soft-touch plastics, and updated leather upholstery with a more premium feel. Drivers can also expect to find a revised instrument cluster, updated switchgear, and an infotainment system with an 8-inch display.

Full details will be announced later this week but we can expect the model will come with a new eight-speed automatic transmission that should help to improve performance and fuel-efficiency.

The plug-in variant of the Niro is the center of attention at Kia's display in Los Angeles, but it's certainly not the only newsworthy model there. The South Korean brand is also showing the refreshed 2019 Sorento.

Don't worry if you didn't notice the Sorento. The visual changes are, by Kia's own admission, subtle. Up front, it wears a redesigned grille, new-look headlights, and a smaller rendition of the company's trademarked ice cube-style fog lights. The modifications out back are equally minor, and it takes a true Kia fan to notice the new wheel designs.

We begin to see bigger changes as we open the driver's door. Kia updated the steering wheel, the gear selector, and the instrument cluster, and it also tweaked the air vents and the center console. The passengers benefit from an upgraded infotainment system and a newly-available wireless charging pad, among other tech features.

The changes become even more significant when you look at the specifications sheet. The current model's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder will no longer be available for the 2019 model year. It will be replaced by a brand-new turbodiesel engine Kia is currently putting the final touches on. It's a bold move; we can't wait to drive it.

Other engine options include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 185 horsepower and bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. Want more? You'll have to step up to a 3.3-liter V6 that delivers 290 horses through a new-for-2019 eight-speed automatic. Properly equipped, the Sorento can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

EX trim levels and higher now come standard with a suite of tech features such as forward collision warning, smart cruise control, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and a surround-view monitor. Additionally, upscale models are offered with a 630-watt, 10-speaker stereo by Harman Kardon.

The 2019 Kia Sorento will go on sale next year. Pricing information and technical specifications about the turbodiesel model will emerge in the coming months.

It's hard to believe but just a few years ago the fate of diesel engines in America looked surprisingly bleak following the dieselgate scandal. Volkswagen still hasn't brought the engines back to the United States but several automakers have stepped up to the plate including Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Jaguar Land Rover.

The latest entry is somewhat surprising but Car and Driver is reporting a diesel-powered Kia Sorento will be launched in the United States early next year. The news was confirmed by Kia Motors America's vice president of product planning who told the publication the company is working with the EPA to get the diesel engine approved for sale.

Orth Hedrick declined to say which engine the company is trying to have certified but the publication believes it could be the 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that is offered in the European crossover. It produces 197 hp (146 kW) and 325 lb-ft (440 Nm) of torque which would make it more powerful than the entry-level 2.4-liter four-cylinder which develops 185 hp (137 kW) and 178 lb-ft (241 Nm) of torque.